31 October 2016

Contents

  • The beginning

  • Momentum

  • LeaRn together

  • Successes to date

  • Challenges

  • Future

Question

Apart from time, what are the biggest challenges facing a technical user group?

The beginning


Gaining momentum


Professionalising the RUG

  • Meeting rooms

  • Agenda
    • Live coding demo x 2
    • Package of the month
    • Topical Discussion (Shiny server)

  • Average attendance of 15 with one in 10 Tfl analysts on the distribution list

  • Not just R! Data Science techniques


Taster Sessions / training

LeaRn Together

  • Lunchtime dial in sessions with screen sharing

  • Feedback positive

  • No need to Leave you desk!


Two strands

  • ISLR
    • Regression
    • Classification
    • Supervised / Unsupervised Learning
  • Tutorials

Tutorial examples: time series

TfL Intranet site

Awards



2 x awards at the TfL analyst conference

Benefits of the User Group

  • Markedly increased collaboration across TfL modes

  • Improved data science skills of analyst community

  • Increased confidence in presenting

  • Increased network, more efficient at solving problems

What seems to work

  • Intentional
    • Passionate advocates
    • Coordinators
    • Having R and R Studio on the estate
    • Structured sessions and program
    • Mailbox comms and updates (with distribution list)


  • Less intentional but important!
    • Good senior management support
    • Lync conversations and presenting

Challenges

  • IM, a long time to get R and R Studio on the network

  • Retaining consistent numbers for the RUG and ISLR sessions

  • RUG responsible for user testing new version of R for roll out

  • Day jobs!

  • Volunteers…

Future plans

  • Youtube demos

  • A broader data science focus

  • Introduce more external/guest speakers

  • Advertise more widely with more taster sessions.

Questions

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